A HUNTSMAN who overturned two convictions for hunting wild animals with dogs has been reconvicted for one of the offences. 

John ‘Ollie’ Finnegan, formerly of Kennel Lane, Cuddington, was found guilty of an offence under the Hunting Act 2004 at Crewe Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, August 15.

The charge related to an incident which took place on a ‘trail hunt’ on November 26, 2022, in Marbury, near Malpas.

Trail hunting, which involves laying a trail of animal urine for hounds to follow, is legal, but can lead to hounds picking up and following a real animal's scent, which is against the law. 

At Crewe Magistrates’ Court on August 30, 2023, the 39-year-old was found guilty in his absence of this very offence, along with a similar offence, allegedly committed on November 12.   

He was handed a £1,000 fine, £150 prosecution costs, a £800 victim surcharge, and a criminal behaviour order imposing severe restrictions on his work as a professional huntsman.  

Finnegan, who failed to show up for several hearings, managed to successfully appealed both the convictions.

However, he was later recharged for the same offences by officers from Cheshire’s Rural Crime Team, which led to his reconviction on August 15 for the Marbury offence. 

Finnegan, now of Dene Hill, County Meath, Ireland, was fined £468. 

Cheshire's Superintendent Gareth Wrigley said: “This is testament to the hard work and tenacity of the officer in the case and the support and expertise of the prosecutor.

“I’d like to thank both for their dedication and determination to achieve justice in what is a complicated area of law, and I’d also like to thank those who gave evidence which helped to convict Finnegan.

“It shows the importance of giving evidence and statements in order to successfully prosecute those who break the law.”

This is not the first time Finnegan has been fined for his involvement in illegal hunting.

He was ordered to pay £1,331 in December 2022 after Gloucestershire Police uncovered messages which showed him admitting to the illegal hunting of foxes.